"I don't feel like a newcomer or someone who just started," he told the Corriere dello Sport.

"President Massimo Cellino was the one who convinced me to become a Coach. One day he took me aside and suggested I try, then if I saw it went well I'd continue and if not he'd find another role for me in the club.

"I worked with Allegri for two years and know him well. I also worked with Marco Giampaolo, so I learned a lot from my Coaches. I think Carlo Ancelotti is the most innovative, while Luciano Spalletti did great things abroad with Zenit."